Bettye Danoff
Bettye Jane Danoff (née Mims; May 21, 1923 – December 22, 2011) was an American professional golfer. She was one of the 13 founding members of the LPGA tour in 1950.[1]
| Bettye Danoff | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Bettye Jane Mims Danoff |
| Nickname | Mighty Mite |
| Born | May 21, 1923 Dallas, Texas |
| Died | December 22, 2011 (aged 88) McKinney, Texas |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) |
| Nationality |  |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1949 |
| Retired | 1961 |
| Former tour(s) | LPGA Tour (founding member) |
| Professional wins | 1 |
| Best results in LPGA major championships | |
| U.S. Women's Open | 15th: 1952 |
Danoff began playing golf at age 6. Her parents had opened a driving range and nine-hole golf course in Grand Prairie Texas.[2] She also played under the names Bettye Mims White and Bettye Mims Danoff.
The LPGA Tour wasn't founded until 1950. Before then, she won four straight Dallas Women's Golf Association Championships in addition to two Texas Women's Amateur Championship. In 1947, she defeated Babe Zaharias, 1 up, in the Texas Women's Open. Zaharias had won 17 consecutive tournaments before losing to Danoff.[3] Also before her LPGA days, Danoff played exhibitions with PGA Tour stars.
Danoff was a mother to three daughters who traveled with her as she played off the LPGA Tour. After the death of her husband in 1961, Danoff played in a limited number of tournaments. She was the LPGA Tour's first grandmother.
Amateur wins
- 1947 Texas Women's Amateur
- 1948 Texas Women's Amateur
Professional wins (1)
- 1953 Hardscrabble Open[4]
References
- "LPGA Tour founder Danoff dies at 88". THV. The Sports Network. December 22, 2011. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
- LPGA Tour founding member Bettye Danoff dies in Texas at 88
- Jameson, Diringer In Texas Finals
- Mrs. Betty Danoff Wins Hardscrabble Golf Title Chicago Daily Tribune, October 10, 1953